Can't edit parts of a note

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I am running the latest version of Evernote 6.6.4.5512 on Windows 10 Pro 64-bit.

Just recently I have noticed that I can't edit parts of a note. It's really odd. The parts I can edit have the regular typing cursor. But the parts I can no longer edit have a left-pointing arrow cursor.

I closed Evernote and reloaded to no effect, then rebooted the computer. The latter seemed to be a solution. So I haven't used Evernote since this initial finding. So tonight, I go in to edit and it's the exact same way. So I thought I would uninstall, reboot, reinstall. Didn't change anything and now rebooting the computer doesn't help either.

Any ideas what could be going on and a way to fix this?

Thank you!

Karen

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Hi. Can you share a screenshot of the sort of note you're having a problem with? Are these business-card scans, or produced in another package? No reason that I know of for some text to become uneditable...

2

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@jarodsafehouse71, welcome to the forums! This does sound odd. Is it only happening in one note? In line with what @gazumped asked, what's the source of the text in which the problem occurs? Was it perhaps clipped or pasted in from the Web, or from some other source? There may be some underlying formatting that's causing the issue. Also, have you tried editing it with the Evernote Web interface? (Go to https://evernote.com/ and log in at the top right [not with the large fields in the middle of the page, which are to sign up for a new account].)

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No problem - have you noticed that it's the copy/ paste items that cause an issue? If you're not sure, it might be worth flagging those between horizontal lines or something for a while so you can determine text from copies...

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If everything in your note is plain text (or you're willing for that to happen), I'd suggest copying the content into a text-only app and then from there into a new note. Delete the original, and you may end the problem.. hopefully...

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I am facing the same problem. I am unable to edit any of my notes unless I add the text at the bottom of the note. If I click anywhere else - just as mentioned by "BurgmanLover" I too cannot edit the note at all.

I tried making an only text note and editing but I face the same problem.

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@BurgmanLover, @Vdy - anyone able to give us a screenshot of the note and error messages here? If you guys are using Windows, then logging out of Evernote and back in again may help - likewise restarting your system, or at least making sure in Task Manager that all Evernote related services have shut down...

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I have the same problem as well, ever since my last upgrade. I am on Windows 10 Pro, 64 bit. I deleted the app, rebooted, reinstalled, with the same problem. Very frustrating. I sent in my Activity Log to Evernote support, and screen shots (worthless - a blank note where I can't type anything but the title). SO now I am writing notes on yellow pads of paper!

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@BurgmanLover, I wish I could offer some actual help, but all I have is a question or two and a weird-stuff pointer. Questions: Does this continue to happen in every new note you create? Does it happen when trying to edit already existing notes?

Weird-stuff: the fact that "-apple-system" shows up in the font field on a Windows 7 computer is beyond bizarre. In a very quick online check, I found this information from a few years ago: "-apple-system [is a] value for the font property [in Web pages on iOS systems]. What this basically does is uses the default system font of whatever OS version the user is running on (both iOS and OS X), so for example if the user was running Yosemite/iOS 8 they would get Helvetica Neue and if they had El Capitan/iOS 9 they would get San Francisco." I imagine (imagination only!) that on a Windows system, this font property value must result in some kind of failure, since Windows can't identify any font to match this property. But how it got into your note-editing I can't imagine.

It is interesting to note the mention of Helvetical Neue in the quote above. A couple of years ago, a user in the Android forum posted that copying text in the Evernote app on Android and then pasting it into the same note produces a different font and size (a bug that has been well documented among Android users). When a note with this pasting problem is opened in the Evernote desktop app on Windows, the pasted material shows up as Helvetica Neue--which of course does not exist on Windows! Yet in this case Windows does manage to display the text, using some font equivalent or other, and does allow editing in that font.

So we have two cases of Apple font properties showing up in the Windows Evernote program. I have no way of explaining this, or even understanding it, but I do wonder whether they are related. @BurgmanLover, I definitely would encourage you to open a ticket with Evernote support. If you are a Basic user, I think your only option will be to use Twitter, unfortunately.

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I'm running into the same exact problem. If I scroll down I can edit parts of the note, but using the arrow keys warps me to the top, and all my fonts are set to -apple-system. This only started happening today, after upgrading. I also have Windows 10 pro, 64 bit.

I don't have this problem working with the online web version of Evernote, just the windows client.

Is there any way to roll back to the prior version of Evernote?

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I am also facing the exact same problem introduced by BurgmanLover and shared by the few past posters, with the -apple-system font weirdness, not being able to edit the note, etc. I've already reinstalled and nothing.

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My problem is the same as StefanGagne's, with the the same -apple-system font on a Windows 10 64 bit PC. I have asked Evernote support several times for a way to roll back to a prior version, and they won't answer the question. Very frustrating!!

1

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I am seeing this as well on a Windows 10 machine with both the Windows app and the web-based version. I pasted in text from an internal site and the note I was working in went crazy and won't let me edit anything at all (old text in the note or new). I tried pasting the old text into a new note but the text is still uneditable. Please let me know what you might need to fix this.

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I am dead in the water since I updated yesterday. I can create the note title only, and like other posters in this thread, after creating a new note (in new window is the setting), my cursor focus is in the title bar. No trouble creating the title, the default font is "Tahoma 10pt". Then when I click into the body of the note the font switches automatically to "-apple-system 10pt" and there is nothing I can do to type into the note...at all. Nothing. Useless. Same behavior on existing note. Soon as I click into the note body, the font switches and it's over...I can do nothing in the note at all. My entire Evernote instance is useless while the mac users in our office (same Evernote Biz account (yes PAYING account)) continue merrily along their way.

The default font in Tools>>Options>>Note is Tahoma 10 pt. Screenshot is not useful - just a blank note with a title. Are we testing on Windows over there?

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I "fixed" this by uninstalling Evernote and rolling back to an earlier version off filehippo.com.

Sorry, Evernote techs, I'm super busy this week and I can't help you track down the logs to fix this. It's widespread enough that hopefully you have something to work from. Otherwise, I guess I'm just never upgrading again or looking into alternative cloud notetaking apps.

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The problem is I opened a new note. After writing 2 words, the font area turns to showing "apple system", and I can not edit that note again.

I am using windows7 and desktop app evernote, something is wrong.

Ps: There is no problem with phone app and using the program from the phone.

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On 4/10/2018 at 5:52 PM, StefanGagne said:

I'm running into the same exact problem. If I scroll down I can edit parts of the note, but using the arrow keys warps me to the top, and all my fonts are set to -apple-system. This only started happening today, after upgrading. I also have Windows 10 pro, 64 bit.

I don't have this problem working with the online web version of Evernote, just the windows client.

Is there any way to roll back to the prior version of Evernote?

Thanks for these reports. We're looking into this, but unable to reproduce this issue. Currently, the only workaround is to reinstall Evernote for Windows Desktop version 6.10.3.

You can use these steps to do this:

If Evernote is running, select File > Exit from the menu bar to exit the Evernote app

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Seems that there are two levels to this --apple--system font bug. Some can edit bits of their notes, but other like me can only edit the title of a note, rendering Evernote unuable. I also had suffered from the blue box bug from the previous release, so wonder if those users with the extreme version of this bug also had the blue box around your notes issue? I reverted back to 6.6.4 and things are fine again. I'm on Windows 8.1 Pro.

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Yes, the dreaded blue box. I thought it had to do with "Spaces" or some other new feature. I had it too. I have the 'extreme' version of the bug like Seattlitte. I've taken to emailing my notes in, or if I have something on my clipboard, if I create a new note I can perform a cntrl-V and put the contents of my clipboard into a new note. If I then don't do anything else, I can type right after the paste but all the characters are smashed together and entering a space is not possible. I can edit any and all Titles. Along with the blue box in the previous version, I had the intermittent loooong wait between characters as I typed, and when I tried to bring up notes - in the reading pane or in a separate window - I'd have to go off and do other chores whilst I waited for the note's content to render because it took so long. Both the intermittent, bursty typing and the long wait for a note's content to render are both gone, but were actually better than not being able to type in notes at all. Just providing as much info as possible to help tech support. I'm off today so perhaps by Monday the team will have a fix so I won't have to revert.

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It's not just recent versions. I'm using version 6.7.5, and I have been unable to edit for the past few days. I cannot place the cursor anywhere inside the note. I can only select an image - but without any cursor - and only in the image selection mode (ie resize/stretch etc mode). I cannot add text, add a new line or anything else within the note itself. Windows 10, Chrome browser, premium account, long-time user.

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It's not just recent versions. I'm using version 6.7.5, and I have been unable to edit for the past few days. I cannot place the cursor anywhere inside the note. I can only select an image - but without any cursor - and only in the image selection mode (ie resize/stretch etc mode). I cannot add text, add a new line or anything else within the note itself. Windows 10, Chrome browser, premium account, long-time user.

Two points. (1) Depends on the definition of "recent"; I'm still on 6.5.4, and not having these problems. (2) Are you using Evernote via the Windows program, v. 6.7.5, or via the Chrome browser? Are you saying the same problems exist in both interfaces?

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Two points. (1) Depends on the definition of "recent"; I'm still on 6.5.4, and not having these problems. (2) Are you using Evernote via the Windows program, v. 6.7.5, or via the Chrome browser? Are you saying the same problems exist in both interfaces?

I'm using the Windows desktop version 6.7.5. The web version still seems ok.

Checked my Windows 10 laptop yesterday - it's using Evernote version 6.1.2. It was editing as normal yesterday (I don't use it very often for Evernote input) This afternoon it no longer allows editing. It has not updated itself, but would have done its first sync for a couple of weeks. It's almost as if something is happening during syncing.

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I'm using the Windows desktop version 6.7.5. The web version still seems ok.

Checked my Windows 10 laptop yesterday - it's using Evernote version 6.1.2. It was editing as normal yesterday (I don't use it very often for Evernote input) This afternoon it no longer allows editing. It has not updated itself, but would have done its first sync for a couple of weeks. It's almost as if something is happening during syncing.

You might want to update the laptop to 6.7.5 and see if that helps. You can find the EN version at filehippo.com if need be.

We believe this issue is isolated to 6.11.2. Please let us know if the issue continues to occur after reinstalling 6.10.3. Thanks.

Hi Austin,

I can confirm same symptoms (discovered just today) - can't edit any previous note, could barely start a new note before being locked out, and the fun apple font kept toggling back in when I tried to change it out. Version in use was 6.11.2.7027 (307027) on Win 10.

Following your post, I uninstalled and installed as admin ver 6.10.3.6921. All seems back to normal now (quick check/look).

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I just notice something today, creating notes without moving my cursor inside that windows will work fine. But once my cursor move over that new notes, apple system font style came out and that note contents became like a link because my cursor is like a hand pointer/link select cursor.

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When I import a STEP file, I am unable to use the any of the material removal methods in the Home Tab. The part is listed in my path as "Part Copy 1" as opposed to a Design Body, however the icon is different from the normal blue block with a yellow chain. How can I change this such that I can remove material from my part? On a side note, if I try and save a copy as a STEP file, I get an error message that says "This model contains no bodies. An output file will not be generated."

Possible spam reported. STEP files are CAD - not relevant to Evernote that I can see..

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This is very frustrating and disappointing for many users, only made worse by no communication from Evernote.

Would appreciate a response. Thank you.

We're struggling to reproduce this issue. Until this issue is resolved, please reinstall version 6.10. If you experience the issue with the blue frames on 6.10, then 6.7.5 is the version to roll back to.

Do you (or anyone else that's affected by this issue) happen to live in the Bay Area? We're keen to get our hands on a device that's affected by this issue. As others have mentioned, we suspect this may be a GPU/OS/CPU compatibility issue, but we haven't found the culprit yet.

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1. buy an old system such as a Dell D520 for $80 off of ebay running Win 7, install old versions of Evernote, create some notes, then upgrade. Follow the path that the users take on actual hardware that users use. If you're already doing this, my apologies.But I suspect not given that thousands of users hitting this, or

2. Get in touch with a few users who have experienced the user and do a screenshare with them to see what they're seeing and sniff around for clues OR AT LEAST a brute force patch (for example, that would remove the dang apple font).

You don't need to wait until you find someone local. I'm a developer; we deal with this situation occasionally as well, but it doesn't take 2 months to knock down a sev 1.

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Roll back sounds good, no sounds possible ... if I only could find the older versions ... anybody can help?

A web search on "evernote old version windows" turns up several locations where you can get old versions of Evernote. I've used the FileHippo site in the past for other software. Can't testify to other sites.

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I've been having the same issue on my computer at home - first the blue boxes several weeks ago, and then the inability to edit. However, my computer at work has been working fine, even with the new versions. They are both Windows 7, but I'm making a list of all the features that they each have (processor, graphics card, OS specific version etc) to see if that narrows things down. When I get home tonight and get the info for my home computer, I'll post all the comparison info here.

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1. buy an old system such as a Dell D520 for $80 off of ebay running Win 7, install old versions of Evernote, create some notes, then upgrade. Follow the path that the users take on actual hardware that users use. If you're already doing this, my apologies.But I suspect not given that thousands of users hitting this, or

2. Get in touch with a few users who have experienced the user and do a screenshare with them to see what they're seeing and sniff around for clues OR AT LEAST a brute force patch (for example, that would remove the dang apple font).

You don't need to wait until you find someone local. I'm a developer; we deal with this situation occasionally as well, but it doesn't take 2 months to knock down a sev 1.

4

I've done several remote sessions with affected users and have done hours of sniffing. We have a fleet of test devices new and old on different OSs. None are affected by this issue.

Please know that we're asking this because we've exhausted other options.

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Same problem here. Windows 10, Evernote 6.11.2.7027, apple-system and can't edit. Downgraded to 6.10.3.6921. I now have the blue box, but I'm able to type. This is happening on both of my Windows machines, but is not a problem on my Macbook or mobile devices.

We have two test builds we would like you to try. Please let me know if you have the time to allow me to connect to your PC for 15-20 minutes while we run the builds. Anyone available after 3:30 CT today?

Will post the build with the fix here once we have it confirmed. Thanks!

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I've had Windows 10 and have not been able to edit notes consistently since 6.10. I'm going to uninstall my 6.11 and install last problem free version 6.7.5.5825. Is the next fix going to enable typing text in newly created notes in 6.11 using Windows 10 64-bit?

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I'm running into the same exact problem. If I scroll down I can edit parts of the note, but using the arrow keys warps me to the top, and all my fonts are set to -apple-system. This only started happening today, after upgrading. I also have Windows 10 pro, 64 bit.

I don't have this problem working with the online web version of Evernote, just the windows client.

Is there any way to roll back to the prior version of Evernote?

I have Windows 7 64-bit and the apple-font appeared after I updated the stupid program. Now the program is useless to me. I can't edit. I have 2 versions, one on my laptop and one on my desktop. I didn't update the desktop and won't otherwise I will have 2 versions of this piece of ***** software.

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I have Windows 7 64-bit and the apple-font appeared after I updated the stupid program. Now the program is useless to me. I can't edit. I have 2 versions, one on my laptop and one on my desktop. I didn't update the desktop and won't otherwise I will have 2 versions of this piece of ***** software.

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I waited until the update came out of beta, so I've just installed it now, and it's working great! Finally I can edit a note again within the software, without going to the web. Thanks for fixing this.